The elections that loosened the Conservative Party's grip on Kent

It was billed as “Bins versus Brexit” an election that was supposed to be about voters deciding who they wanted to provide key local services for the next four years.

But the tussle for control of Kent’s councils was in the shadow of the unresolved issue of Brexit and the fears of the main parties - notably the Conservatives - that they were in for a trouncing at the hands of disaffected party activists fed up and frustrated at the impasse in negotiations.

These fears were acknowledged by the newly-appointed deputy party chairman and Mid Kent and Faversham Helen Whately.

Labour gained control of Gravesham and the Conservatives lost control of Thanet, Swale and Folkestone and Hythe (9612404)

She was right to be concerned. Party activists were going public with their alarming stories of hostility on the doorstep to the extent that they were retreating to constituency offices to stuff envelopes to evade angry voters.

The early signs were ominous. In Folkestone and Hythe, something unexpected seemed to be happening. The Conservatives were losing ground - not to Labour alone but to the Green Party, who were snatching seats in a way that had not been anticipated, least of all by bemused party rank and file members.

The Conservatives lose control of Folkestone and Hythe District Council

Labour put a gloss on events, pointing out that the party ended up with the highest number of councillors since 1997.

Over in Dartford, the party fended off the threat they had expected from Labour and in a result that showed the unpredictable nature of what was happening, the opposition leader was out of his seat just as his party was making gains elsewhere.

The Conservatives might have taken some solace that these three results were disappointing but not quite the catastrophic meltdown some feared.

But as early results filtered down, the worries returned. Rumours circulated the leader of the Conservative run Canterbury council, Simon Cook, was in trouble.

One explanation for his defeat was the non-aggression pact that had been agreed between the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party - a deal that meant either one of the two parties would not stand in key target seats.

It was a strategy that had been agreed in Folkestone and was producing dividends for both parties.

A trio of Conservative council leaders, knocked down like skittles, came to symbolise what turned out to be an election where the two main parties paid the price for something that they were not responsible for: negotiating a deal that would set the terms of Departure for the UK leaving the European Union.

Voter indifference and antipathy was reflected across the county: politicians from the main parties were feeling the boot of disgruntled activists and disillusioned punters.

The political tectonic plates in Kent have shifted and shifted in a way that was least expected. It is true the Conservatives continue to be the dominant party in several councils but the sea of blue that we have become accustomed to has in parts changed to grey - thanks in part to the Greens.